Phantom 2 Vision Plus travel case

When I got my Phantom 2 Vision Plus from DJI my biggest concern was learning how to fly without crashing the thing. That would come relatively quickly (no crashes yet, knock on wood), and now I’m starting to take some great video with the Phantom 2 Vision Plus. But when it came to traveling with the Vision Plus, I have to admit, I didn’t know A) what the rules were for travel and B) how I would transport it.

After some research, I learned there is a proper way to ensure that you won’t have any problems at the airport. More on that below, but first – how do you travel and protect your new quadcopter? I was luckily enough find and test the right case for the job: The ToughCase XRV+ for DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ (Plus) Carrying Case.And at $179.00, it won’t break the bank.

The best Phantom 2 Vision Plus travel case

I had a 3-state shoot and the Vision Plus was coming with me. I flew from Miami to Indianapolis, drove to Chicago and then flew back to Miami. It was three airports in two days. The ToughCase XRV was about to get a workout. Before I traveled with the case and the Phantom 2 Vision Plus packed inside, I wanted to make sure I knew everything about the case and how it was constructed. So I deconstructed it for you so you can see as well, before making a purchase.

This case is sturdy. It is made of very strong plastic and you can tell when you receive it that it was built to last. What I noticed right away was the handle on the site and the handle on the top. This allows you to carry the case different ways. If you set it down like a standard briefcase, it doesn’t wobble and is balanced.

When set down in it’s standard way, the latches face upwards. The latches are great because you first have to twist the lock to unlock on each side, then you have to pop each latch before the case can be opened. It is not difficult to pop the latches like some Pelican Cases if you’re familiar with that brand.

This is the other option of setting the case down and carrying if you wish to do it vertically. This is also the way you will drag it on it’s roller wheels if you’re looking to pull the case (which was an absolute surprise to me after I received the case in the mail!).

The case allows to stand on end and you can release the handle and drag the case on its wheels. It rolls very smoothly. There is a small latch you have to slide to release the handle. It’s a bit tricky to slide the latch and lift the handle if you have your hands full. You’ll need both hands free to do it. And the handle itself is made of hard plastic – and feels a bit cheap, but it seems to be very strong even running through airports with another bag on top as I pulled it along. I would suspect the handle would be the first piece to break on the case, but so far so good. It’s held up well.

As you can see, the Phantom fits snuggly in the case. Nothing rattles around. The same goes for the controller. It also has several spots for extra batteries (that I just ordered!).

The foam inserts come out easily and allow you to clean out the case. But all in all, this is a very great case and has served me well on my travels.

Traveling with the best Phantom 2 Vision Plus travel case

There are a few very important things you should know before attempting to jump on a plane with your Phantom 2 Vision Plus and your new ToughCase XRV +. When I purchased the case, it came with a sheet of paper that laid out some important tips. Here is a list of items to remember to think about before traveling iwth the Phantom 2 Vision Plus on a plane:

The Phantom 2 Plus battery should be taken out of the Phantom and the case and you should put it in your carry on. The TSA doesn’t permit many batteries to be checked. I brought it along with my carry on and had no trouble getting through security. They didn’t event look twice at it.

It’s your decision if you want to check your Phantom in the case. I did. The case is a bit too big to bring as a carry on. It wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment of many planes. (I was worried about checking it at first, but the case was durable and it was protected through the whole trip.

But if you do check it VERY IMPORTANT: There is a small, rubber O-Ring near the right latch. Take a needle-nose pliers and pull it out. That will allow some air to get into the case (because the case is airtight). If you don’t remove it, your case will compress and suck in and when it hits the baggage claim, it’ll roll up to you on the baggage line with a nice, big indent on the top of the case. I learned this the hard way. I was in a hurry and forgot to take out the ring. Now, it didn’t hurt the Phantom, but I recommend taking out the O-ring as does the company that made the case.

Take off the props before flying. Most likely, TSA agents will open the case and look at the Phantom if your case is checked. Take off the props and tuck them away in a plastic bag so when the agent shuts the case, they don’t smash the props. It takes two seconds and is worth keeping the props in good shape.

Get some TSA-Approved locks. I have some little TSA locks that fit the Phantom case perfectly. You’ll get two little keys with them. TSA Agents can open the locks. It just assures more protection. They won’t cut the locks off if you get the right ones.

Thats about it. I went to three cities total and flew my Phantom three separate times with success and got it back home in great shape. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be flying around as well.

Note

I have not taken the Phantom outside of the Continental USA. I’d like to hear your feedback on if any of these policies are different. I did have a camera stolen out of my checked bag when I visited Mexico a few years ago – so I don’t plan to ever check anything of value outside of the USA in the future. (:

Josh Benson writes about the web, technology, TV News and life in general. He's a self-admitted geek and loves being a Dad. He covers the day's news on WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida. He struggles to learn code and work out but loves all things tech and web!

That’s a valid concern. I would feel the same way flying internationally, but the only other option is to carry it on. I didn’t have the option since i had to carry on my camera and other gear much more valuable than the Phantom. But all was well. It made the trip just fine.

James A. Copenhaver

Josh I have been flying the blade 350 with ap package. Love it

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This website is full of things that you (hopefully) will find useful through tech, social media, startups, TV News, life hacks and more. Most of this content was discovered on my journey around the country as a television news anchor. Thanks for stopping by. Read more.